Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 6

James Moylan to the Commissioners

From John Bondfield
The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Bleiswyck, Pieter van

1778-04-28

 The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Bleiswyck, Pieter van
The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck
Sir Paris, 28th. April 17781

We have the Honour of acquainting your Excellency, that the United States of North America, being now an Independant Power, and acknowledged as such by this Court, a Treaty of Amity and Commerce is compleated between France and the Said States, of which we shall speedily send your Excellency a Copy, to be communicated if you think proper to their High Mightinesses, for whom, the United States, have the greatest 62Respect, and the Strongest Desire that a Good Understanding may be cultivated, and a mutually beneficial Commerce established between the People of the two Nations, which, as will be seen, there is nothing in the above mentioned Treaty to prevent or impede. We have the Honour to be with great Respect, Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servants

(Signet) B. Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams Plenipotentiaries from the United States of North America.

MS (Koninklijk Huisarchief, The Hague); with notes at the top of the first page: “Remis à S. A. le Prince d'orange d'original per Mr. le Conseiller Pens: de Bleiswyk, ce 14. May 1778 Copie:”; on the reverse: “(Adresse) A son Excellence M. P. van Bleyswyk. Grand Pensionaire d'Holande et de Westfrise, &c. &c. à La Haye.”

1.

This letter is identical to the draft enclosed in the Commissioners' letter to Dumas of 10 April (calendared above). It was sent to Dumas in a letter of 30 April, which reached him on 5 May. On 14 May the letter was presented to the Grand Pensionary, the delay being caused largely by the apprehensions of La Vauguyon, the “Grand Facteur” (see Dumas to the Commissioners, 5, 7 May, both below).

Neither the RC nor the covering letter has been found, this despite the existence of the RC, at least, in 1866. In a letter to CFA of 20 Feb. 1866 (Adams Papers), A. Fischel enclosed a transcript of the RC, which he stated had been copied during his examination of Dutch diplomatic correspondence for the period of the American Revolution.